Parallel passage fluid contactor structure

ABSTRACT

A parallel passage fluid contactor structure for chemical reaction processes has one or more segments, where each segment has a plurality of substantially parallel fluid flow passages oriented in an axial direction; cell walls between each adjacent fluid flow passages and each cell wall has at least two opposite cell wall surfaces. The structure also includes at least one active compound in the cell walls and multiple axially continuous conductive filaments either embedded within the cell walls or situated between the cell wall surfaces. The conductive filaments are at least one of thermally and electrically conductive, are oriented in axially, and are in direct contact with the active compound, and are operable to transfer thermal energy between the active material and the conductive filaments. Heating of the conductive filaments may be used to transfer heat to the active material in the cell walls. Methods of manufacturing the structure are discussed.

1. RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of previously filedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/565,285, filed Dec. 9, 2014, andentitled “Parallel Passage Fluid Contactor Structure”, which is acontinuation of previously filed U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/203,714, filed Aug. 26, 2011 and entitled “Parallel Passage FluidContactor Structure”, which is a United States national stageapplication under 35 USC 371 of previously filed PCT InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/CA2010/000251, filed Feb. 26, 2010 andentitled “Parallel Passage Fluid Contactor Structure”, and which claimspriority to previously filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/208,807 filed Feb. 27, 2009 and entitled “Parallel Passage FluidContactor Structure”, the contents of each of which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety.

2. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to parallel passage fluidcontactor structures. More particularly, the present invention relatesto a thermally conductive parallel passage fluid contactor structure andmethod for its manufacture.

3. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluid contactor structures are known in the art for use in chemicalprocesses requiring intimate contact of fluids with an active compound,such as adsorption or catalysis processes for example. Exemplary knownfluid contactor structures include ceramic honeycomb structures forexhaust gas catalysis, and packed bead or parallel plate adsorbentstructures for adsorptive gas separation processes such as thermaland/or pressure swing adsorption processes. However, a shortcoming ofcertain of the parallel passage fluid contactor structures of the priorart relates to poor thermal characteristics of the structure. Inparticular, prior art parallel passage fluid contactors may haveundesirably high thermal mass which may require an undesirably largethermal energy flux to effect a given temperature change in thestructure, or may have undesirably low thermal conductivity which mayresult in undesirably large temperature differences within thestructure, for example. Such undesirable thermal characteristics ofcertain parallel passage fluid contactors of the prior art may result inincreased costs related to thermal regeneration of fluid contactors,and/or limited efficiency of chemical separations or reactions withinthe fluid contactors of the prior art.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parallel passagefluid contactor structure that addresses some of the limitations of theprior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofmanufacturing a parallel passage fluid contactor structure thataddresses some of the limitations of the prior art.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a thermal swingadsorption separation process for separating first and second fluidcomponents using a parallel passage fluid contactor structure accordingto the present invention that addresses some of the limitations of theprior art.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a catalyticreaction process for catalysis reaction of a first fluid component witha parallel passage fluid contactor structure according to the presentinvention that addresses some of the limitations of the prior art.

A parallel passage fluid contactor structure comprising one or moresegments is provided according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. Each segment comprises a plurality of substantially parallelfluid flow passages oriented in an axial direction; cell walls situatedbetween each adjacent one of said fluid flow passages, each said cellwall comprising at least two opposite cell wall surfaces, andadditionally comprising at least one active compound; and a plurality ofaxially continuous conductive filaments either embedded within said cellwalls or situated between said surfaces of said cell walls. Said axiallycontinuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermally andelectrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, and areadditionally in direct contact with said at least one active compound ofsaid cell walls and are operable to transfer thermal energy between saidat least one active material and said conductive filaments.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure is provided comprising one or more segments whereeach segment comprises a plurality of substantially parallel fluid flowpassages oriented in an axial direction; cell walls situated betweeneach adjacent one of said fluid flow passages and arranged in ahoneycomb configuration, said cell walls comprising at least one of aceramic, carbon and polymer material and each said cell wall comprisingat least two opposite cell wall surfaces; and a plurality of axiallycontinuous conductive filaments either embedded within said cell wallsor situated between said surfaces of said cell walls. Said axiallycontinuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermally andelectrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, and areoperable to transfer thermal energy between said cell walls and saidconductive filaments.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method ofmanufacturing a parallel passage fluid contactor structure is provided.The method comprises providing a slurry comprising at least onestructural compound; extruding said slurry through a die in an axialdirection to produce at least one green parallel passage structuresegment comprising a plurality of substantially parallel fluid passagesoriented in said axial direction, and cell walls comprising saidstructural compound between adjacent said fluid passages; embedding aplurality of axially continuous conductive filaments within said cellwalls, wherein said axially continuous conductive filaments are at leastone of thermally and electrically conductive, are oriented in said axialdirection, and are operable to transfer thermal energy between at leasta portion of said cell walls and said conductive filaments; and curingsaid green parallel passage structure segment.

According to yet another embodiment, a further method of manufacturing astacked or corrugated parallel passage fluid contactor structure isprovided. Such further method comprises providing a slurry comprising atleast one structural compound; extruding or casting said slurry toproduce green structural sheet components; forming said structural sheetcomponents into at least one green structure segment comprising said aplurality of substantially parallel fluid passages oriented in an axialdirection, and cell walls comprising said structural compound betweenadjacent said fluid passages; embedding a plurality of axiallycontinuous conductive filaments within said cell walls, wherein saidaxially continuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermallyand electrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, andare operable to transfer thermal energy between at least a portion ofsaid cell walls and said conductive filaments; stacking or rolling saidgreen structure segment to form a multilayer green parallel passagefluid contactor structure segment; and curing said green parallelpassage structure segment.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a temperature swingadsorption process for separating first and second fluid components isprovided. Such temperature swing adsorption process comprises admittingsaid first and second fluid components into a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure in a first axial direction, said parallel passagefluid contactor structure comprising a plurality of substantiallyparallel fluid flow passages oriented in said axial direction, cellwalls situated between each adjacent one of said fluid flow passageswith each said cell wall comprising at least two opposite cell wallsurfaces, and additionally comprising at least one adsorbent compoundand a plurality of axially continuous conductive filaments eitherembedded within said cell walls or situated between said surfaces ofsaid cell walls, wherein said axially continuous conductive filamentsare at least one of thermally and electrically conductive, are orientedin said axial direction, and are additionally in direct contact withsaid at least one adsorbent compound of said cell walls and are operableto transfer thermal energy between said at least one adsorbent materialand said conductive filaments. Said method further comprises adsorbingat least a portion of said first fluid component on said at least oneadsorbent material comprised in said cell walls wherein at least aportion of the heat of adsorption of said adsorbing of said first fluidcomponent is transferred axially along said filaments during saidadsorbing step; recovering a product fluid enriched in said second fluidcomponent; and desorbing at least a portion of said first fluidcomponent adsorbed on said at least one adsorbent material by heatingsaid conductive filaments.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a catalytic reactionprocess for catalysis of a first fluid component is provided. Suchcatalytic reaction process comprises admitting said first fluidcomponent into a parallel passage fluid contactor structure in a firstaxial direction, said parallel passage fluid contactor structurecomprising a plurality of substantially parallel fluid flow passagesoriented in said axial direction, cell walls situated between eachadjacent one of said fluid flow passages with each said cell wallcomprising at least two opposite cell wall surfaces, and additionallycomprising at least one active catalytic compound either applied to orcomprised within said cell walls, and a plurality of axially continuousconductive filaments either embedded within said cell walls or situatedbetween said surfaces of said cell walls, wherein said axiallycontinuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermally andelectrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, and areadditionally in direct contact with said at least one active catalyticcompound and are operable to transfer thermal energy between said atleast one active catalytic compound and said conductive filaments. Saidcatalytic reaction process further comprises contacting at least aportion of said first fluid component with said active catalyticcompound to catalyze at least one reaction to produce a second fluidcomponent; recovering a product fluid comprising said second fluidcomponent; and regenerating at least a portion of said active catalyticcompound by heating said conductive filaments.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent whenconsidering the drawings in conjunction with the detailed description.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The parallel passage fluid contactor structure of the present inventionwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawingfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional and corresponding inset perspectiveview of a parallel passage fluid contactor structure according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional perspective view of theparallel passage fluid contactor structure shown in FIG. 1 according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure according to a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure comprising multiple segments according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a parallel passagefluid contactor structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a parallel passagefluid contactor structure comprising multiple segments according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of a corrugatedparallel passage fluid contactor structure according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure segment according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of a parallelpassage fluid contactor structure segment according to a furtherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary adsorption isotherm for a temperatureswing adsorption process used in conjunction with a parallel passagefluid contactor structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary parallel passage fluid contactorstructure according to an embodiment of the invention. The exemplaryparallel passage fluid contactor structure indicated generally at 102comprises a substantially cylindrical shape defined by substantiallycylindrical outer surface 108. The exemplary structure 102 is shown withfirst and second ends 104 and 106, with multiple substantially parallelpassages 110 extending axially along the length of the structure 102,from the first end 104 to the second end 106. The parallel passages 110are preferably continuous along the length of the structure 102 and areadapted to allow the flow of fluid through the passages 110. Parallelpassages 110 are separated from each other by cell walls 112 to form anexemplary honeycomb structure wherein each passage 110 is substantiallyseparated from adjacent passages 110 by at least one cell wall 112.Parallel passage contactor structure 102 also comprises axiallycontinuous conductive filaments 114 embedded in or otherwise situatedwithin cell walls 112, in order to provide at least one of thermaland/or electrical conductivity capacity for the parallel passagecontactor structure 102 in the axial direction. In one embodiment, theparallel passage fluid contactor structure 102 may be a substantiallyhoneycomb structure, as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein cell walls 112are substantially arranged in a grid pattern, such as a rectangular gridas shown in FIG. 1.

Similarly, FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional perspectiveview of the parallel passage fluid contactor structure shown in FIG. 1having a substantially rectangular grid honeycomb structure, accordingto an embodiment of the invention. In such a rectangular grid honeycombstructure 102 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, axially continuous andthermally and/or electrically conductive filaments 114 mayadvantageously be embedded in or otherwise situated within cell walls112 at the intersection of two cell walls 112, which correspondsgenerally with a corner of each adjacent parallel passage 110. In such amanner, the axially continuous and thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments 114 may be advantageously located proximate tomultiple adjoining parallel passages 110, such that the thermal and/orelectrical conductivity capacity provided by the filaments 114 is inclose proximity to multiple parallel passages 110 and to the fluid thatmay be contained in or passed through such parallel passages 110 duringuse of the parallel passage fluid contactor structure. In alternativeembodiments, honeycomb structures with cell walls 112 arranged inalternative geometric arrangements may be utilized, for example havingcell walls in a hexagonal, triangular, or other polygonal gridarrangement, resulting in substantially similarly shaped parallel fluidflow passages 110. Further, other embodiments may comprise parallelpassages 110 with cross sectional shapes other than polygons, such ascircular, semi-circular, oval, or obround (a shape with two semicirclesconnected by parallel lines connecting their endpoints) cross-sections,for example. Also, in other alternative embodiments, axially continuousconductive filaments 114 may be embedded in or otherwise located withincell walls 112 either at the intersections of cell walls 112, or atother locations, such as within cell walls 112 between suchintersections for example.

In the honeycomb parallel passage fluid contactor structures 102 asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in other alternative embodiments asdescribed above, axially continuous and thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments 114 may desirably be used to conduct thermal energy(either as sensible thermal energy or as thermal energy resulting fromelectrical resistance heating of the filaments) into or out of thestructure 102 or axially from one portion of the structure 102 toanother, and accordingly to provide for respective heating and/orcooling of portions of or the entire structure 102. In particular, atleast a portion of the axially continuous thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments 114 of structure 102 may desirably be thermallyconnected to a source or sink of thermal energy, in order to conductthermal energy into or out of the structure 102. Such thermal energyconducted into or out of the structure 102 may desirably increase ordecrease the temperature of the structure 102, such as cell walls 112,and/or may transfer thermal energy into or out of a fluid within thepassages 110 of the fluid contactor structure 102. Exemplary thermalcircuits comprising connections of thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments 114 of the fluid contactor structure 102 tocontrollable heat sources and/or heat sinks may be employed to providecontrollable heating and cooling of the cell walls 112 of the structurethrough transfer of thermal energy into and/or out of the structure 102via the conductive filaments 114, allowing for thermal control of thestructure 102 or a fluid passed through the structure 102 via anexemplary thermal and/or electrical circuit connected to the conductivefilaments 114. Further, axially continuous thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments 114 also provide for the transfer of thermal energyin the axial direction within the structure 102 itself, such as from thefirst end 104 of the structure 102 to the second end 106, which may beparticularly desirable to provide control of a thermal profile along theaxial length of the structure 102, for example. In such a manner,embodiments of the invention may desirably provide control of thethermal conditions and profile within the parallel passage fluidcontactor structure 102 that is independent of the temperature of afluid flowing into or out of the structure 102, by means of transmittingthermal energy into or out of the structure 102, or within the structure102, through the axially continuous conductive filaments 114.

In a further embodiment, the parallel passage fluid contactor structuresaccording to the present invention may comprise anisotropic thermalconductivity in the axial direction relative to the transversedirection, due to the provision of substantially increased thermalconductivity in the axial direction by the axially continuous conductivefilaments, relative to the thermal conductivity of the structure in thetransverse direction. In one such embodiment, the parallel passage fluidcontactor structures of the present invention may comprise anisotropicthermal conductivity where the thermal conductivity in the axialdirection is at least 10 times, and more particularly at least 100 timesthe thermal conductivity of the structure in the transverse direction,due to the axial thermal conductivity capacity provided by the axiallycontinuous conductive filaments included in the structure.

In a particular embodiment, the parallel passage fluid contactorstructure 102 may comprise an active compound that is operable tointeract with a fluid contained within or passed through the passages110 of the parallel passage fluid contactor structure 102. For example,the cell walls 112 of the structure 102 may desirably comprise at leastone active compound that is operable to interact with at least one fluidpassed through the parallel fluid flow passages 110 and in contact withthe cell walls 112 of the contactor. In one exemplary such embodiment,the active compound may be an adsorbent material comprised in the cellwalls 112 of the contactor 102, such that when a multi-component gasmixture (an exemplary fluid) is passed through the passages 110, atleast a portion of the gas mixture is adsorbed on the active adsorbentmaterial comprised in the cell walls 112 of the contactor 102. In suchembodiment, the parallel passage fluid contactor structure 102 maycomprise a parallel passage adsorbent structure 102, for use incontacting a fluid such as a gas with an active adsorbent compoundcomprised in the cell walls 112 of the structure 102. In suchembodiment, the thermally and/or electrically conductive filaments 114within the cell walls 112 may advantageously provide for transferringthermal energy into and/or out of the adsorbent structure 102, such asto enable the use of the adsorbent structure 102 in a thermal swingadsorption process, whereby the active adsorbent material in the cellwalls 112 may be heated by the thermally and/or electrically conductivefilaments 114 to raise the temperature of the adsorbent material, andthereby to desorb at least a portion of an adsorbed gas. In suchembodiment, any suitable known adsorbent compounds, or combinationsthereof, may be comprised in the cell walls 112 of the structure 102 toenable adsorbent interaction with a gas or liquid fluid passed throughthe parallel fluid flow passages 110 of the structure 102.

In a second exemplary such embodiment, the active compound may be acatalyst material comprised on or in the cell walls 112 of thestructure, such as by wash coating or otherwise attaching or adhering(such as by spraying or electrophoretic deposition for example) thecatalyst material onto the cell walls 102, or by incorporating thecatalyst material into the cell walls 112 of the structure 102, suchthat when a gas or liquid (exemplary fluid) is passed through thepassages 110, at least a portion of the gas or liquid reacts orotherwise interacts with the active catalyst compound to result in adesired chemical reaction within the fluid contactor structure 102. Insuch embodiment, the parallel passage fluid contactor structure 102 maycomprise a parallel passage catalyst structure 102, for use incontacting a fluid such as a gas or liquid with an active catalystcompound comprised in or on the cell walls 112 of the structure 102. Insuch an embodiment, the thermally and/or electrically conductivefilaments 114 within the cell walls 112 may advantageously provide fortransferring thermal energy into and/or out of the active catalystmaterial in or on the cell walls 112, such as to enable the use of thecatalyst structure in a reversible catalysis process, to pre-heat oractivate the catalyst material, to provide energy to initiate or sustaina catalytic reaction process, for example. In such embodiment, anysuitable known catalyst compounds, or combinations thereof may becomprised in or on the cell walls 112 of the structure to enablecatalyst interaction with a gas or liquid fluid passed through thepassages 110 of the structure 102.

In a further such embodiment, any suitable active compound known to beoperable to interact with a fluid within or passed through the passages110 of parallel passage fluid contactor structure 102 may be comprisedin or on the cell walls 112 of the structure. Exemplary such knownactive compounds may comprise, but are not limited to, desiccant,activated carbon, carbon adsorbent, graphite, activated alumina,molecular sieve, aluminophosphate, silicoaluminophosphate, zeoliteadsorbent, ion exchanged zeolite, hydrophilic zeolite, hydrophobiczeolite, modified zeolite, natural zeolites, faujasite, clinoptilolite,mordenite, metal-exchanged silico-aluminophosphate, uni-polar resin,bi-polar resin, aromatic cross-linked polystyrenic matrix, brominatedaromatic matrix, methacrylic ester copolymer, graphitic adsorbent,carbon fiber, carbon nanotube, nano-materials, metal salt adsorbent,perchlorate, oxalate, alkaline earth metal particle, ETS, CTS, metaloxide, catalyst, chemisorbent, amine, organo-metallic reactant, andmetal organic framework (MOF) adsorbent compounds, and combinationsthereof.

In yet a further embodiment, the honeycomb parallel passage fluidcontactor structure 102 shown in FIG. 1 may comprise an extrudedhoneycomb structure such as may be made by the extrusion of a ceramic orother composite slurry material through a die. In such a case, themultiple parallel passages 110 extending through the parallel passagefluid contactor structure 102 and the cell walls 112 separating adjacentpassages 110 may be formed by the shape of an exemplary extrusion die,such as by an extrusion die comprising multiple spaced apart pin or roddie elements, through which a ceramic or other composite slurry may beextruded to form the structure 102. In such an embodiment, said ceramicor other composite slurry may comprise at least one inactive orstructural material such as a binder material, for example, in additionto the at least one active material operable to interact with a fluidpassed through passages 110 of structure 102 for example. In otherembodiments, said inactive or structural material may comprise at leastone of a clay, ceramic, colloid, silica, adhesive, resin, and bindercompound, or combinations thereof.

According an embodiment of the invention, axially continuous thermallyand/or electrically conductive filaments 114 may comprise any suitableknown thermally and/or electrically conductive materials which may bedrawn, shaped, formed or otherwise fashioned into a continuous filament114. In a preferred embodiment, filaments 114 may comprise one or morematerials having a desirably high thermal conductivity, in order toenable efficient conduction of thermal energy into or out of the cellwalls 112 of parallel passage fluid contactor structure 102, and/or intoor out of fluid passing through the passages 110 of structure 102.Exemplary such known thermally conductive materials may comprise, butare not limited to, aluminum, copper, tungsten, silver, gold andmetallic alloys thereof, as well as carbon, and carbon fiber materials.Advantageously, the axially continuous conductive filaments 114 in theinventive structure 102 may be formed from suitable known materialshaving an axial thermal conductivity of at least 200 W/mK, and morepreferably at least about 400 W/mK, in order to provide filaments 114capable of efficiently conducting thermal energy into, out of, or withinthe contactor structure 102. In a particular embodiment, the axiallycontinuous thermally and/or electrically conductive filaments 114 maycomprise a thermally conductive carbon material comprising one or moreof a phenolic resin carbon fiber, a mesophase carbon fiber, and a carbonnanotube material, wherein the carbon material has an axial thermalconductivity of at least 400 W/mK, and more preferably at least about500 W/mK. In a further embodiment, the type of material and relativedimensions and spacing of the axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments 114 may be selected so as to provide abulk axial thermal conductivity of the entire parallel passage fluidcontactor structure of at least 0.25 W/mK, and more particularly of atleast about 1 W/mK. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, the type ofmaterial and relative dimensions and spacing of the axially continuousthermally and/or electrically conductive filaments 114 may be selectedso as to provide a bulk axial thermal conductivity of the entireparallel passage fluid contactor structure of at least about 10 W/mK. Inone exemplary embodiment where the parallel passage fluid contactorstructure comprises a void fraction of about 35% and comprisesconductive filaments with an axial thermal conductivity of about 600W/mK, the structure may desirably comprise a bulk axial thermalconductivity of at least about 10 W/mK and more desirably at least about20 W/mK, for example.

In yet another embodiment, the axially continuous thermally conductivefilaments 114 running axially within contactor structure 102 may also beelectrically conductive. Preferably, such electrically conductivefilaments 114 may be resistively heated upon passing an electricalcurrent through the filaments 114 in an axial direction. Therefore,electrically conductive filaments may be controllably heated or cooledby connecting the electrically conductive filaments to an electricalcircuit, and controlling the passage of an electric current through thefilaments to increase and/or decrease the relative temperature of thefilaments 114 by means of resistive heating. This in turn provides forelectrical control of heating and/or cooling of the cell walls 112 ofthe parallel passage fluid contactor structure 102 that are in directcontact with the filaments 114, and in turn also provides for electricalcontrol of heating and/or cooling of one or more active compoundscomprised in or on the cell walls 112 of the structure 102. Accordingly,in such an embodiment, control of electrical current flowing through thefilaments 114 of the structure 102 may be used to control heating andcooling of the cell walls 112 of the structure and/or a fluid flowingthrough the parallel passages 110 of the structure. Electricalresistance heating of the filaments 114 may therefore be used to heat anactive compound in or on the cell walls 112, such as to desorb a portionof an adsorbed gas from an adsorbent active compound, or to desorb aportion of an absorbed gas or liquid from an absorbent or chemi-sorbentactive compound, or to activate an active compound, or provide thermalenergy for a catalytic or other chemical reaction, for example.

In a further embodiment, the parallel passage fluid contactor structure102 may also comprise thermally and/or electrically conductive filamentsoriented in a transverse direction and extending transversally acrossthe structure 102. Such transverse filaments may preferably be embeddedin or otherwise situated within the cell walls 112 of the structure 102,such as to provide thermal conductivity capacity to the structure 102 ina transverse direction. Such transverse conductive filaments may also beboth thermally and electrically conductive, and operable to be heated byelectrical resistance heating upon passing a current through thetransverse filaments, similar to the axially continuous filaments 114described above.

Additionally, it should be noted that for all embodiments of the presentinvention, the relative dimensions of the parallel fluid flow passages110, cell walls 112 and axially continuous thermally conductivefilaments 114 may be adapted to suit the desired characteristics of thestructure 102 for any desired application or use, such as desiredcharacteristics for fluid flow including pressure drop, characteristicsfor structural integrity and strength, porosity and/or void ratio forthe structure 102, thermal capacity and/or mass of the structure, andaxial thermal conductivity provided by filaments 114 for example, amongother potentially desired characteristics.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of a parallel passagefluid contactor structure 302 according to another embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. The parallel passage fluid contactorstructure 302 comprises an exemplary honeycomb structure comprisingparallel fluid flow passages 304 separated by cell walls 312. Similar tothe structure 102 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the honeycomb structure 302also comprises axially continuous thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments 314 embedded in or otherwise located within cellwalls 312, to provide axial thermal conductivity capacity to thehoneycomb structure 302. In the exemplary parallel passage fluidcontactor structure 302 at least a portion of the parallel fluid flowpassages 304 are blocked at one end of the structure 302 by a plug orcap 306, which blocks fluid from flowing in or out of the parallelpassage 304 at the blocked end of the structure. Preferably any onepassage 304 is only blocked by plug or cap 306 at one end of thestructure 302, to provide for flow of fluid into or out of theparticular passage 304 at the other unblocked end. Additionally, it ispreferable that at least a portion of the cell walls 312 between flowpassages 304 are at least partially porous, such that a fluid (such as aliquid or gas) can pass through such porous cell wall portions 312. Insuch a manner, fluid may be passed into the passage 304 at a firstunblocked end of the structure and by means of the plug or cap 306blocking the other end of the passage 304, the fluid can be made to passthrough a porous portion of the cell wall 312 adjacent to the blockedpassage and into another neighbouring passage 304.

In a particular embodiment, the honeycomb parallel passage fluidcontactor structure 302 may preferably comprise plugs or caps 306blocking alternating fluid passages at either end of the structure 302as illustrated in FIG. 3, so that each individual fluid passage 304 isblocked at one end of the structure 302 and open at the other end of thestructure 302, and also so that each passage 304 is adjacent to flowpassages that are blocked at their opposite ends. The cell walls 312 ofsuch a structure 302 are also at least partially porous so as to bepervious to a fluid such as a gas or liquid flowing through the cellwall portions 312 between passages 304. Accordingly, a fluid may bepassed into the contactor structure 302 at a first end into the passages304 that are open at that first end and blocked at a second end of thestructure 302, and such fluid may be made to flow through the cell walls312 between passages 304, to exit the contactor structure through thealternating passages 304 that are blocked at the first end and open atthe second end of the structure 302, thus providing a wall flow parallelpassage contactor structure also having axially continuous thermallyconductive filaments 314 located within the cell walls 312. In apreferred embodiment, the wall flow structure 302 also comprises atleast one active compound in and/or on the cell walls 312 of thestructure 312, as described above, so that a fluid passed through thecontactor structure 302 and thereby flowing through the cell walls 312of the structure 302 will also pass in intimate contact with the atleast one active compound comprised in or on the cell walls 112.

In one example, a parallel passage wall flow fluid contactor structure302 may comprise an active adsorbent compound in or on the cell walls312 of the structure 302 such that when a gas mixture is passed throughthe structure 302 it flows through cell walls 312 and in intimatecontact with the adsorbent compound, such that a portion of the gas isadsorbed on the adsorbent. Subsequently, following the adsorption of aportion of the gas mixture on the adsorbent compound comprised in or onthe cell walls 312, thermal energy may be transmitted into the structure302 by the axially continuous thermally and/or electrically conductivefilaments 314, providing thermal energy to desorb at least a portion ofthe adsorbed gas from the adsorbent compound. In such a manner, theparallel passage wall flow adsorbent structure 302 may be used toimplement a temperature swing adsorption/desorption process such as forseparating components of a gas mixture, for example. Additionally,axially continuous thermally conductive filaments 314 may provide forcontrol of the thermal conditions and profile within adsorbent structure302 during adsorption and desorption of gas mixture components, such asto enhance the adsorption/desorption process by transmitting thermalenergy from one end of the structure 302 to the other end to reduce thethermally transient effects of the adsorption front or desorption frontduring use of the structure 302 in an adsorptive gas separation process,for example.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a partially exploded perspective view of aparallel passage fluid contactor structure 402 comprising multiplesegments is shown, according to an embodiment of the invention. Multipleindividual parallel passage segments, such as segments 404, 406 and 408,may be fluidly connected in series to form a single multi-segmentstructure 402. Each parallel passage segment comprised in themulti-segment structure comprises a plurality of parallel fluid flowpassages, cell walls separating such passages, and axially continuousthermally and/or electrically conductive filaments embedded within orotherwise located in the cell walls, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. Each parallel passage segment also preferablycomprises at least one active compound in or on the cell walls of thesegment structure, so as to enable interaction between the activecompound and a fluid passed through the parallel passage fluid contactorsegment. However, individual parallel passage segments may includedifferent physical specifications such as relative size, space andorientation of parallel fluid passages, cell walls and thermallyconductive filaments, different axial lengths, different activecompounds or combinations thereof in or on the cell walls of thesegment, or different non-active materials used in the construction ofthe segment, as may be suitable for use of the multi-segment parallelpassage fluid contactor structure for a desired application or purpose.

In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the multi-segmentparallel passage fluid contactor structure 402 may comprise a firstparallel passage fluid contactor segment 404 which comprises a wall flowparallel passage segment, similar to as described above in reference toFIG. 3, wherein the first wall flow parallel passage segment 404comprises blocked parallel passages 414 which are blocked at a first endof the segment 404, and alternating adjacent open parallel passageswhich are open at the first end of the segment 404 but blocked at asecond end of the segment 404. Wall flow parallel passage segment 404also comprises cell walls (not indicated) between the parallel passages,and axially continuous thermally and/or electrically conductivefilaments (not shown) embedded in the cell walls and extending axiallythrough segment 404, as described above in reference to FIG. 3. Further,first wall flow parallel passage segment 404 comprises at least onefirst active compound in or on the cell walls, such as a first adsorbentcompound, which may comprise an exemplary alumina based adsorbent, forexample. The multi-segment contactor structure 402 also comprises asecond parallel passage fluid contactor segment 406, which is similar toas described above in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, comprising parallelfluid flow passages 410 and cell walls 412 between flow passages 410.Segment 406 also comprises axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments (note shown) embedded in the cellwalls 412 and extending axially through segment 406. Second segment 406also comprises at least a second active compound in or on the cell walls412, such as a second adsorbent compound, which may comprise anexemplary silica based adsorbent, for example. The multi-segmentcontactor structure 402 also comprises a third wall flow parallelpassage segment 408, similar to as described above in reference to FIG.3, comprising blocked parallel passages 424 which are blocked at a firstend of segment 408 and open at a second end, and alternating adjacentopen parallel passages 426 which are open at the first end of thesegment 408, but blocked at the second end. Wall flow segment 408 alsocomprises cell walls between parallel passages and axially continuousthermally and/or electrically conductive filaments (not shown) embeddedin the cell walls and extending axially through segment 408, andadditionally comprises at least a third active compound in or on thecell walls, such as a third adsorbent compound, which may comprise anexemplary zeolite based adsorbent, for example. Accordingly, theexemplary multi-segment parallel passage adsorbent structure 402comprises all three segments 404, 406 and 408 fluidly connected inseries so that a gas mixture may be passed sequentially through thethree segments and portions of the gas mixture may be adsorbed on eachof the first, second and third active adsorbent compounds. Such anexemplary multi-segment structure may be used to implement a temperatureswing adsorptive separation process, for example, to separate multiplecomponents of a gas mixture, where the desorption and/or regeneration ofthe segments 404, 406 and 408 of the multi-segment structure 402 may beeffected through the application of thermal energy to the segments 404,406 and 408 via the axially continuous thermally and/or electricallyconductive filaments extending through each of the segments. Suchtemperature (or thermal) swing adsorptive regeneration may be applied toall of segments 404, 406, and 408 simultaneously, or alternatively maybe applied individually or in any desired sequence, so as to provideindependent control of regeneration of each of segments 404, 406 and408, as may be desirable to implement different adsorptive separationprocesses and/or cycles, such as may be preferred for complex and/ormulti-component separations, for example.

The multi-segment parallel passage fluid contactor structure 402 mayalso desirably comprise a thermal conductive circuit connecting theconductive filaments of the individual parallel passage segments 404,406 and 408, such as is schematically represented by thermallyconductive connection 462 between first segment 404 and second segment406, thermally conductive connection 460 between second segment 406 andthird segment 408, and thermally conductive connection 464 between thirdsegment 408 and first segment 404. In particular, the thermallyconductive connections 462, 460 and 464 preferably connect at least aportion of the conductive filaments extending axially through thesegments 404, 406 and 408, so that thermal energy may be transmittedbetween segments within the multi-segment structure 402. Alternatively,connection 464 may also be used to connect the thermally conductivefilaments of the multi-segment structure 402 to an external thermalsource and/or sink, to facilitate the transmission of thermal energyinto and/or out of the structure 402, and by connection into and/or outof each of segments 404, 406 and 408. According to one exemplaryembodiment, thermally conductive connections 462, 460 and 464 may bemade with the thermally conductive filaments in segments 404, 406 and408 by bundling and/or otherwise mechanically (such as by bonding and/orsoldering for example) connecting the filaments from each segmenttogether, so that they are in intimate and thermally conductive contactwith each other, and can transmit thermal energy between segments.Alternatively, any other suitable means of thermally connecting thefilaments in connected segments may be used. In a further embodiment,each of segments 404, 406 and 408 may be independently thermallyconnected to an outside thermal source and/or sink, rather thanconnected to another segment, so that thermal energy may be transmittedinto and/or out of each segment individually.

In alternative embodiments, segments 404, 406 and 408 may comprise anysuitable active compound in or on the cell walls of the segment as maybe desirable for use an a desired application, such as but not limitedto adsorption, absorption, chemi-sorption, reaction or catalysisprocesses, for example, and including, but not limited to the activecompounds described above in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 or combinationsthereof. Further, multi-segment structures may comprise any suitablenumber of parallel passage segments as may be desirable for use in adesired application, and each such segment may comprise active compoundsand physical specifications similar to or different from any othersegment in the multi-segment structure.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exploded perspective view of a parallelpassage fluid contactor structure 502 is shown, according to anembodiment of the invention. Similar to as described above in referenceto FIGS. 1 and 2, the parallel passage fluid contactor structure 502comprises parallel fluid flow passages 510 and cell walls 512 betweenadjacent passages 510, arranged in an exemplary honeycomb configuration.Structure 502 also comprises axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments 514 embedded in or otherwise locatedin cell walls 512, and extending the axial length of the structure 502from a first end to a second end of the structure. Structure 502 alsocomprises filament connector elements 516 and 518 located at first andsecond ends of the structure 502 to connect individual conductivefilaments 514 of the structure 502 together, and to a thermal and/orelectrical circuit inside or outside of the structure 502. Each filamentconnector element 516, 518 is at least thermally or electricallyconductive and comprises multiple grid elements 522, 524, 526, 528, 530and a peripheral element 520 connecting the grid elements. Theindividual axially continuous conductive filaments 514 are connected tothe filament connector elements 516 and 518 at either end of thestructure 502. Accordingly, the filament connector elements 516 and 518may be connected to a thermally conductive circuit, such as a thermalsource and/or sink, to transmit thermal energy into and/or out of thethermally conductive filaments of structure 502, and therefore totransmit thermal energy into and/or out of the cell walls 512 andpassages 510 of the structure 502.

In one embodiment, the grid elements 522, 524, 526, 528 and 530 offilament connector elements 516 and 518 may be substantially alignedwith the orientation of the cell walls 512 and thermally conductivefilaments 514 embedded in cell walls 512, to facilitate connection withthe thermally conductive filaments 514 of structure 502. Accordingly,depending on the orientation of the cell walls 512 and filaments 514 ofthe structure 502, grid elements 522, 524, 526, 528, 530 of connectorelements 516, 518 may be oriented vertically as shown in FIG. 5, orhorizontally, or in another orientation to facilitate connection withfilaments 514. The connection of filaments 514 to connector elements516, 518 may be made by any suitable thermally conductive connectionmeans, such as by bonding, soldering, friction fit, or mechanical socketconnection, for example.

In a further embodiment, axially continuous thermally conductivefilaments 514 are preferably also electrically conductive, and may beresistively heated upon passing an electrical current through thefilaments 514 in an axial direction. In such embodiment, the filamentconnection elements 516 and 518 are also preferably electricallyconductive and are connected by an electrically conductive means tofilaments 514. Filament connective elements 516 and 518 may thereby beconnected to an electrical circuit to conduct electrical current throughthe filaments 514 of parallel passage fluid contactor structure 502.Therefore, the filaments 514 may be controllably heated or cooled byconnecting the filament connector elements 516, 518 to an electricalcircuit, and controlling the passage of an electric current through thefilaments 514 to increase and/or decrease the relative temperature ofthe filaments 514 by means of resistive heating. This in turn providesfor electrical control of heating and/or cooling of the cell walls 512of the parallel passage fluid contactor structure 502 that are in directcontact with the filaments 514, and in turn also provides for electricalcontrol of heating and/or cooling of one or more active compoundscomprised in or on the cell walls 512 of the structure 502. Electricalresistance heating of the filaments 514 may therefore be used to heat anactive compound in or on the cell walls 512, such as to desorb a portionof an adsorbed gas from an adsorbent active compound, or to desorb aportion of an absorbed gas or liquid from an absorbent or chemi-sorbentactive compound, or to activate an active compound, or provide thermalenergy for a catalytic or other chemical reaction, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an exploded perspective view of a parallelpassage fluid contactor structure 602 comprising multiple segments isshown, according to an embodiment of the invention. Multi-segmentparallel passage fluid contactor structure 602 comprises first andsecond parallel passage fluid contactor segments 604 and 606respectively which are fluidly connected together in series to enable afluid to be passed through segments 604 and 606 sequentially, althoughin alternative embodiments, any suitable number of segments may beincluded in the structure 602 as may be suited to a desired applicationor use. Parallel passage fluid contactor segments 604 and 606 eachcomprise an exemplary honeycomb configuration similar to as describedabove in reference to FIG. 5, with segment 604 comprising parallel fluidflow passages 610 and cell walls 612 between adjacent passages, andsegment 606 comprising passages 620 and cell walls 622, respectively.Segment 604 also comprises axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments 614 embedded in or otherwise situatedwithin cell walls 612 and extending axially through segment 604, andsimilarly segment 606 comprises axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments 624 embedded in or otherwise situatedwithin cell walls 622 and extending axially through segment 606. Each ofparallel passage fluid contactor segments 604 and 606 also desirablycomprise at least one active compound in or on cell walls 612 and 622,respectively, where each active compound is operable to interact with agas and/or liquid fluid passed through the structure 602. In oneexemplary embodiment, segment 604 may comprise a first active adsorbentcompound, and segment 606 may comprise a second active adsorbentcompound, for example, to provide a multi-adsorbent parallel passageadsorbent structure 602, such as may be suitable for use in a thermalswing adsorptive separation process, for example. In another exemplaryembodiment, segments 604 and 606 may each comprise other differentactive compounds, such as may be suitable for use in other fluid contactprocesses such as absorption, reaction and/or catalysis, for example,similar to as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In afurther embodiment, segments 604 and 606 may optionally comprise thesame active compound if desired.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, conductive filaments 614and 624 are both thermally and also electrically conductive, and may beheated by means of electrical resistance heating upon passage of anelectrical current through conductive filaments 614, 624 in an axialdirection. Conductive filaments 614 are electrically connected toelectrically conductive filament connector elements 630 and 632 at firstand second ends of parallel passage fluid contactor segment 604, toenable electrical connection of filaments 614 to an electrical circuit.Accordingly, conductive filaments 614 and thereby also cell walls 612and adjoining passages 610 may be controllably heated by passing acontrollable electrical current through filaments 614. Similarly, insegment 606, conductive filaments 624 are electrically connected toelectrically conductive filament connector elements 632 and 634 at firstand second ends of segment 606, to enable electrical connection offilaments 624 to an electrical circuit and controllable heating offilaments 624 and thereby also cell walls 622 and passages 620 bypassing a controllable electrical current through filaments 624. In analternative embodiment, filaments 614 of segment 604 and filaments 624of segment 606 may be connected to separate filament connector elements,rather than common connector element 632, however for simplicity, in theembodiment shown in FIG. 6, common filament connector element 632 isemployed, which may be connected to a common ground 658 of an electricalcircuit via electrical connection 642.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, multi-segment parallelpassage fluid contactor structure 602 is connected to a controllableelectrical circuit, to provide electrical control of the heating and/orcooling of filaments 614 and 624 of contactor segments 604 and 606.Electrical connection 640 of the filament connector element 630 at thefirst end of segment 604 may be controllably electrically connected toelectrical power source 654 by switch means 650. Similarly, electricalconnection 644 of the filament connector element 634 at the second endof segment 606 may be controllably electrically connected to electricalpower source 656 by switch means 652. As previously described,electrical connection 642 of filament connector element 632 is connectedto common electrical ground 658, providing a ground connection forfilaments 614 and 624. Accordingly, switch means 650 and 652 may beoperated to independently control electrical current to filaments 614 ofsegment 604 and filaments 624 of segment 606, respectively, to provideindependently controllable heating and/or cooling of segments 604 and606 by electrical means. This independent electrical control of thetemperature of segments 604 and 606 of multi-segment structure 602 maybe desirably used to control one or more reaction processes withinstructure 602.

In one example, in the case where structure 602 is a multi-segmentadsorbent structure with segments 604 and 606 comprising first andsecond adsorbent compounds, the adsorption and desorption on theadsorbents of segments 604 and 606 of components of a gas mixture passedthrough structure 602 may be independently electrically controlled. Thismay desirably provide improved control and performance of thermal swingadsorption processes using exemplary structure 602, so that desorptionand/or regeneration of one adsorbent segment 604 may be achievedindependently of the other adsorbent segment 606, for example.

In another example, in the case where structure 602 is a multi-segmentcatalytic structure with segments 604 and 606 comprising first andsecond catalytic compounds, the catalytic reaction of components of agas mixture passed through structure 602 in segments 604 and 606 may beindependently electrically controlled. This may desirably provideimproved control and performance of multi-reaction catalysis processesusing exemplary structure 602, so that reaction temperature and/orregeneration of one catalytic segment 604 may be controlledindependently of the other catalytic segment 606, for example.

In a further example, a single segment parallel passage contactorstructure may comprise a single set of axially continuous conductivefilaments, but may comprise two or more sections of active compoundsapplied to and/or incorporated in the single structure segment. Forexample, a single segment may comprise first and second axial sectionswhere cell walls comprise first and second active compounds such asadsorbent materials. Alternatively, a single segment structure maycomprise first and second active compounds applied to at least a portionof the cell wall surfaces of first and second axial sections of thestructure, such as first and second catalytic active compounds appliedto the structure adjacent to first and second ends of the structuresegment. In such an example, a first active compound (such as a firstcatalyst) may be applied to a first section of the structure segmentsuch as by wash coating, spraying, impregnation, grafting or any othersuitable method of application, while a second active compound (such asa second catalyst) may be similarly applied to a second section of thestructure segment by any suitable means, to provide a single structuresegment comprising two or more sections each comprising at least oneactive compound. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, the entirestructure segment may be heated and/or cooled by means of the axiallycontinuous conductive filaments therein to simultaneously heat and/orcool each of the two or more sections of active compounds.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a perspective cross-sectional view of acorrugated parallel passage fluid contactor structure 702 is shown,according to an embodiment of the invention. Corrugated parallel passagefluid contactor structure 702 comprises first and second cell walllayers 708 and 712, respectively. First cell wall layer 708 comprises asubstantially planar layer upon which second corrugated cell wall layer712 is supported. Second cell wall layer 712 may be typically arrangedin regular wave-like ridges common to corrugated structures, such thatpassages 710 are created between the first cell wall layer 708 andsecond cell wall layer 712. Accordingly, corrugated first and secondcell wall layers 708 and 712 may be rolled into a concentricsubstantially cylindrical shape to form corrugated structure 702, whichcomprises substantially parallel fluid flow passages 710 oriented in anaxial direction. Corrugated structure 702 further comprises axiallycontinuous thermally and/or electrically conductive filaments 714 whichmay embedded in or otherwise situated within the first and/or secondcell wall layers 708 and 712, such as at the intersection of layers 708and 712 between passages 710. Therefore, as corrugated structure 702 isassembled, filaments 714 are oriented axially within structure 702,extending from a first end to a second end of the structure 702, andprovide thermal conductivity capacity in an axial direction.

Similar to as described above in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, axiallycontinuous thermally conductive filaments 714 of corrugated structure702 may desirably be used to conduct thermal energy into or out of thestructure 702, and at least a portion of the axially continuousthermally conductive filaments 714 of structure 702 may desirably bethermally connected to a source or sink of thermal energy, in order toconduct thermal energy into or out of the structure 702. Such thermalenergy conducted into or out of the structure 702 may desirably increaseor decrease the temperature of cell walls 708, 712, and/or may transferthermal energy into or out of a fluid within the passages 710 of thecorrugated fluid contactor structure 702.

Also similar to as described above in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,corrugated parallel passage fluid contactor structure 702 may compriseat least one active compound operable to interact with a fluid containedwithin or passed through the passages 710 of the structure 702. Forexample, the cell walls 708, 712 of the structure 702 may comprise atleast one active adsorbent compound in or on the cell walls 708, 712such that when a multi-component gas mixture (an exemplary fluid) ispassed through the passages 710, at least a portion of the gas mixtureis adsorbed on the active adsorbent material comprised in or on cellwalls 708, 712.

Further, similar to as described above in reference to otherembodiments, the axially continuous thermally conductive filaments 714of corrugated structure 702 may also be electrically conductive and maybe resistively heated upon passing an electrical current through thefilaments 714 in an axial direction. Therefore, electrically conductivefilaments 714 may be controllably heated or cooled by connecting theelectrically conductive filaments 714 to an electrical circuit, andcontrolling the passage of an electric current through the filaments714. This in turn provides for electrical control of heating and/orcooling of the cell walls 708, 712 of the corrugated structure 702 andthereby also of one or more active compounds comprised in or on the cellwalls 708, 712 of the structure 702.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a perspective view of a further parallelpassage fluid contactor structure segment 802 is shown, according to anembodiment of the invention. Parallel passage fluid contactor structuresegment 802 is substantially similar to other honeycomb configuredparallel passage fluid contactor structure embodiments as describedabove in reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, however, exemplary structuresegment 802 comprises multiple substantially parallel fluid flowpassages 810 which have substantially circular cross sections, and aresubstantially cylindrical in shape. Additionally exemplary structuresegment 802 also comprises a substantially rectangular outer shape,which may be desirable for some applications for reasons of fit or easeof manufacturing, for example. Structure segment 802 also comprises cellwalls 812 between cylindrical flow passages 810, and axially continuousthermally and/or electrically conductive filaments 814 embedded in orotherwise situated within the cell walls 812. In the exemplary structuresegment 802, conductive filaments 814 are thermally connected to eachother by means of a thermally conductive connector grid, comprisingexemplary horizontal elements 818 and vertical elements 816, and suchthermally conductive connector grid may be used to connect filaments 814to an external thermal energy source and/or sink, as described above inreference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a partially exploded perspective view of aparallel passage fluid contactor structure segment 902 is shown,according to a further embodiment of the invention. Structure segment902 represents a partially exploded view of substantially the sameexemplary structure segment illustrated as segment 802 in FIG. 8 above.Accordingly, segment 902 comprises substantially parallel fluid passages910 separated by cell walls 912, and axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments 914 embedded in or otherwise situatedwithin cell walls 912. Filaments 914 are also connected by gridconnector elements 918 and 916. The structure segment 902 additionallyalso comprises a central connector element 922 which may be used toconnect filaments 914 to an external thermal circuit. Additionally, inthe case where filaments 914 and connector elements 916, 918 and 922 areboth thermally and additionally electrically conductive, connectorelement 922 may be used to electrically connect filaments 914 ofstructure segment 902 to an electrical circuit, to provide electricalcontrol of heating of the segment 902, such as may be desirable forcontrolling adsorption, absorption, reaction and/or catalysis processeswithin the structure segment, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 10, exemplary adsorption isotherms 1002, 1004 fora temperature swing adsorption process used in conjunction with aparallel passage fluid contactor structure are shown, according to anembodiment of the invention. As described above, particularly inreference to FIGS. 1 and 2, parallel passage fluid contactor structuresaccording to some embodiments of the present invention may desirablycomprise active adsorbent compounds in the cell walls of the structure,and may be used to conduct adsorption processes such as thermal swingadsorption for the separation of components of a gas mixture. Adsorptionisotherm 1002 represents the adsorption of an exemplary gas componentsuch as carbon dioxide on an exemplary adsorbent compound at a firstrelatively lower temperature. Adsorption isotherm 1004 represents therelatively decreased adsorption of the same exemplary gas component onthe exemplary adsorbent compound at a second, relatively highertemperature. As can be seen and is well known in the art, it is possibleto exploit the difference in adsorption capacities of the exemplaryadsorbent compound to adsorb a desired exemplary gas component at afirst lower temperature, to separate it from a gas mixture, and then todesorb a substantial portion of the adsorbed gas component by raisingthe temperature of the adsorbent compound. Accordingly, theabove-described exemplary embodiments of parallel passage fluidcontactor structures comprising axially continuous thermally and/orelectrically conductive filaments operable to heat the contactorstructure independent of the temperature of a fluid within the flowpassages of the structure may desirably provide an improved means forconducting thermal swing adsorption processes without requiring the useof heated fluid flows within the structure to effect temperature changesin the adsorbent compound, for example, or to reduce the reliance uponthermal transfer between fluid flows and the structure to conductthermal swing adsorption processes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a parallel passage fluid contactor structure comprisingaxially continuous thermally and/or electrically conductive filaments isdisclosed. In one embodiment, a honeycomb parallel passage fluidcontactor structure such as described above in reference to FIGS. 1 and2 may be manufactured by extruding a precursor slurry of the materialcomprising the fluid contactor structure through an extrusion die, forexample. In such an embodiment, a slurry comprising at least onestructural compound of the structure is provided for extrusion, such asa wet or paste-like slurry comprising a ceramic structural material, forexample. The slurry may also desirably possess shear-thinningrheological properties, to facilitate extrusion through a die, whiledesirably providing structural integrity following extrusion. Exemplarystructural compounds may comprise clay, ceramic, colloid, silica,adhesive, resin, and binder compounds, or combinations thereof. Theslurry may also comprise at least one active compound to be incorporatedinto the fluid contactor structure, such as one or more of the exemplarytypes of active compounds described above in reference to FIG. 1, forexample. In one embodiment, the structural compound may also be anactive compound, such as an adsorbent clay compound, for example.

A suitable such slurry may then be extruded through a die in an axialdirection, to simultaneously form a honeycomb configuration comprisingmultiple axially oriented parallel fluid flow passages divided by cellwalls extending between the fluid flow passages, to form a greenparallel passage fluid contactor structure. In one embodiment, the diemay comprise a network of shallowly-cut grooves in the face of the die,which are arranged in a regular grid pattern to form the honeycomb cellwall network of the parallel passage contactor structure when the slurryis extruded through the grooves. The relative size and spacing of thegrooves in the face of the die may be selected according to any suitabledesired dimensions and spacing of the cell walls and parallel fluid flowpassages of the resulting parallel passage fluid contactor structuresegment, allowing for any potential contraction or shrinkage duringdrying, curing, firing and/or activation of the structure segment. In aparticular embodiment, the network of shallowly-cut grooves in the faceof the die may be connected to a source of the slurry by a plurality ofsmall feed holes in the back of the die such that the slurry may besupplied under a controllable extrusion pressure through the feed holesto be extruded through the network of grooves. Each groove may besupplied with slurry by one or more feed holes, depending on factorssuch as the relative dimensions of the grooves in relation to theconsistency of the slurry, for example.

Axially continuous thermally and/or electrically conductive filamentsmay be fed through a plurality of feed holes that are aligned to supplyslurry to the intersections of the shallow grooves in the face of thedie, so that the filaments may extend through the intersections of thegrooves as the slurry is extruded through the die to form the fluidcontactor structure segment. Accordingly, as the slurry is extrudedthrough the die, the filaments are extended through the die along withthe slurry and are embedded in the cell walls of the green structuresegment extending axially through the entire segment. In the case wherethe filaments extend through the die at the intersections of the shallowgrooves in the die, the filaments may accordingly be embedded axiallyalong the corresponding intersections of the cell walls of the structuresegment as it is extruded. In a particular embodiment, the feed holes inthe die through which the filaments extend may be of a larger diameterthan the non-filament feed holes which supply only the slurry to theface of the die. Further, the filaments may optionally be extendedthrough the face of the die prior to the extrusion of the structuresegment, such that a traction force may be controllably applied to thefilaments to pull the filaments through the die during the extrusionprocess, to match the extrusion rate of the slurry through the die, andto control and desirably minimize potential shearing between thefilaments and the green honeycomb structure segment as it is extruded.

After the green parallel passage fluid contactor structure segment isextruded from the die, it is cured to form a stable cured structuresegment. Curing may comprise a drying, firing, chemical curing and/orother curing process suited to cure the particular slurry compositionused to form the structure segment. Where the slurry and structuresegment comprise an active compound which requires activation, theparallel passage contactor structure may also be activated in anactivation process. In some embodiments, such an activation process maybe combined with a curing process such as firing, for example.

According to an alternative embodiment, a green parallel passage fluidcontactor structure segment may be extruded without the inclusion ofaxially continuous thermally and/or electrically conductive filaments.In such case, following the extrusion of the green structure segment, aplurality of axially continuous thermally and/or electrically conductivefilaments may be inserted axially into the structure segment such asalong fluid flow passages, and may be embedded into the cell walls ofthe structure, or otherwise situated within the cell walls, such as byadhering the filaments to the cell walls using the slurry material usedto extrude the structure segment, or another suitable adhesive and/orthermally conductive curing material, so that the filaments are suitablyembedded or otherwise enclosed within the cell walls and are operable totransfer thermal energy to and/or from at least a portion of the cellwalls of the structure segment. After the insertion of the filaments toextend continuously in the axial direction through the green structuresegment, the segment may be cured and/or activated such as describedabove. In yet a further embodiment, the slurry used to form thestructure segment may optionally comprise a porosity-enhancing compound.In such case, following the extrusion of the green structure segment,the porosity-enhancing compound may be burned off and/or otherwisevolatilized to create additional porosity in the structure, such asincreasing the porosity of the cell walls of the structure, for example.Such enhanced porosity of the cell walls of the structure may beparticularly desirable for use in wall-flow embodiments of the parallelpassage fluid contactor structure, such as described above in referenceto FIG. 3, for example.

In some embodiments, multiple parallel passage fluid contactor structuresegments may be fluidly connected to form a multi-segment structure,such as described above in reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, for example. Insuch multi-segment structures, one or more segments may be thermallyconnected to each other, such as by thermally connecting the filamentsin each segment, for example. In embodiments where the conductivefilaments are thermally and also electrically conductive, one or moresegments may also optionally be connected electrically, such as byelectrical connection of the electrically conductive filaments in eachsegment, for example.

In an alternative embodiment, a corrugated parallel passage fluidcontactor structure similar to as described above in reference to FIG. 7may be manufactured according to a similar manufacturing method. In amethod for manufacturing a corrugated structure segment, a suitableslurry comprising at least one structural compound may instead beextruded or tape cast into multiple green structural sheets. Suchstructural sheets may be formed into a substantially planar corrugatedgreen structure comprising axially oriented parallel fluid flow passagesand cell walls between said flow passages, and axially continuousthermally and/or electrically conductive filaments may be appropriatelyembedded in or otherwise placed within the cell walls such that they areoperable to transfer thermal energy to and/or from the cell walls of thecorrugated structure. The corrugated structural sheet may then bestacked in multiple planar layers, and/or rolled, such as spirallyrolled, to form a green multi-layer corrugated parallel passage fluidcontactor structure. Then, the green multi-layer structure may be curedand/or activated to form the finished corrugated parallel passage fluidcontactor structure.

The exemplary embodiments herein described are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. They are chosen and described to explain the principles ofthe invention and its application and practical use to allow othersskilled in the art to comprehend its teachings.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to beconstrued in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A temperature swing adsorption process forseparating first and second fluid components, comprising: admitting saidfirst and second fluid components into a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure in an axial direction, said parallel passage fluidcontactor structure comprising at least one segment having: a pluralityof substantially parallel fluid flow passages oriented in said axialdirection; cell walls situated between each adjacent one of said fluidflow passages, each said cell wall comprising at least a first and asecond cell wall surfaces, and additionally comprising at least oneadsorbent material; and a plurality of axially continuous conductivefilaments either embedded in said cell walls or situated between saidsurfaces of said first and second cell walls, wherein said axiallycontinuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermally andelectrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, and areadditionally in direct contact with said at least one adsorbent materialof said cell walls and are operable to transfer thermal energy betweensaid at least one adsorbent material and said conductive filaments.adsorbing at least a portion of said first fluid component on said atleast one adsorbent material comprised in said cell walls wherein atleast a portion of a heat of adsorption of said adsorbing of said firstfluid component is transferred axially along said filaments during saidadsorbing step; recovering a product fluid enriched in said second fluidcomponent; and desorbing at least a portion of said first fluidcomponent adsorbed on said at least one adsorbent material by heatingsaid conductive filaments.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein saidsegment further having conductive filaments oriented in a transversedirection.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein said heating of saidconductive filaments comprise transferring thermal energy via saidconductive filaments.
 4. The process of claim 1, further comprisingduring at least one of said adsorbing step and said desorbing step,transferring thermal energy via said conductive filaments from at leastone of a first end to a second end, and said second end to said firstend, of said parallel passage fluid contactor structure.
 5. The processof claim 1, further comprising during said desorbing step, transferringthermal energy into said conductive filaments and said parallel passagefluid contactor structure.
 6. The process of claim 1, further comprisingduring said desorbing step, passing an electric current through saidconductive filaments.
 7. The process of claim 6, further comprisingcontrolling said passing of said electric current.
 8. The process ofclaim 1, wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure furthercomprising a plurality of segments, and during said desorption stepfurther comprising passing an electric current through said conductivefilaments of each said segment independently.
 9. The process of claim 1,wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure furthercomprising a plurality of segments and during said desorption stepfurther comprising heating said plurality of segments substantiallysimultaneously.
 10. The process of claim 1, wherein said parallelpassage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality ofsegments having said conductive filaments in thermal communicationbetween said plurality of segments, and further comprising transferringthermal energy between said plurality of segments.
 11. A catalyticreaction process for catalysis of a first fluid component, comprising:admitting said first fluid component into a parallel passage fluidcontactor structure in a first axial direction, said parallel passagefluid contactor structure comprising: a plurality of substantiallyparallel fluid flow passages oriented in said axial direction; cellwalls situated between each adjacent one of said fluid flow passages,each said cell wall comprising at least two opposite cell wall surfaces,and additionally comprising at least one active catalytic compoundeither applied to or comprised within said cell walls; and a pluralityof axially continuous conductive filaments either embedded within saidcell walls or situated between said surfaces of said cell walls, whereinsaid axially continuous conductive filaments are at least one ofthermally and electrically conductive, are oriented in said axialdirection, and are additionally in direct contact with said at least oneactive catalytic compound and are operable to transfer thermal energybetween said at least one active catalytic compound and said conductivefilaments. contacting at least a portion of said first fluid componentwith said active catalytic compound to catalyze at least one reaction toproduce a second fluid component; recovering a product fluid comprisingsaid second fluid component; and regenerating at least a portion of saidactive catalytic compound by heating said conductive filaments.
 12. Theprocess of claim 11, wherein said segment further having conductivefilaments oriented in a transverse direction.
 13. The process of claim11, wherein said heating of said conductive filaments comprisetransferring thermal energy via said conductive filaments.
 14. Theprocess of claim 11, further comprising during at least one of saidadsorbing step and said desorbing step, transferring thermal energy viasaid conductive filaments from at least one of a first end to a secondend, and said second end to said first end, of said parallel passagefluid contactor structure.
 15. The process of claim 11, furthercomprising during said desorbing step, transferring thermal energy intosaid conductive filaments and said parallel passage fluid contactorstructure.
 16. The process of claim 11, further comprising during saiddesorbing step, passing an electric current through said conductivefilaments.
 17. The process of claim 16, further comprising controllingsaid passing of said electric current.
 18. The process of claim 11,wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure furthercomprising a plurality of segments, and during said desorption stepfurther comprising passing an electric current through said conductivefilaments of each said segment independently.
 19. The process of claim11, wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure furthercomprising a plurality of segments and during said desorption stepfurther comprising heating said plurality of segments substantiallysimultaneously.
 20. The process of claim 11, wherein said parallelpassage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality ofsegments having said conductive filaments in thermal communicationbetween said plurality of segments, and further comprising transferringthermal energy between said plurality of segments.